Last Modified: Sunday, November 10, 2013 at 6:03 p.m.

Facts

The bear necessities

* If you encounter a bear at close range, remain standing upright, back up slowly and speak to the bear in a calm, assertive voice.

* Do not feed or intentionally attract bears. If a bear eats something on your property, take note of what it is and secure it once the bear leaves.

* Never approach or surprise a bear. If you see a bear from a distance, enjoy the experience, but do not move toward the bear. If you are close, do not make any sudden or abrupt movements. Back way slowly and be sure the bear has an obvious escape route.

If you are in your yard:

* Make sure you are in a safe area and that the bear has a clear escape route. Then, make noise or bang pots and pans to scare the bear away.

* Do not turn your back, play dead, climb a tree or run. Back away slowly into the house or secure area.

* Avoid direct eye contact. Bears and many other animals may view this as aggressive behavior.

* Report any bear that is threatening the safety of humans, pets or livestock, or causing property damage to the FWC.

They expect wildfire in the area — after all, they live on the edge of the Ocala National Forest. And there's no surprise that bears roam the area.

Still, the Marcantonis are concerned about their family's safety. They have toddler-age grandchildren who visit their remote property in Eureka, about 25 miles east of Ocala.

They're also concerned about limits on their ability to protect themselves. With few exceptions, bears may not be killed or injured, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's (FWC) Bear Conservation Program.

“My hands are tied. It's like Catch-22. If the bears come back, we are helpless, because we are told not to harm them. When we called (the FWC) during the attacks, we were told to call back during the daytime. Bears don't go by daytime hours,” Charlie Marcantoni, 62, said.

The couple moved to Eureka about four years ago upon Charlie's retirement from the Walmart Distribution Center in Ridge Manor. They had been regular visitors to the Ocala National Forest for decades.

Their pets — 130-pound Porka-Dottie and 150-pound Sweetie — “just showed up two years ago. They could actually play soccer,” Suzanne Marcantoni, 60, said.

“Thursday morning (Oct. 3) about 1:30 a.m., we heard screeching. A bear had broken into our dog pen where we kept Porka-Dottie and Sweetie and hauled Porka-Dottie off. The screeching kept up while the bear dragged her into the woods. It's hard to believe the bear could take a 130-pound pig like that,” Suzanne Marcantoni said.

The shocked couple called the Marion County Sheriff's Office. A deputy responded and checked security at the residence, according to the family. The incident was essentially over by about 2:30 a.m.

“The deputy was a great help. He wanted to make sure no persons were at risk,” Suzanne Marcantoni said.

The Marcantonis expected an FWC wildlife (law enforcement) officer would be sent out at the time of the incident.

“We were told you have to talk to a bear biologist, and we could call back at 8:01 a.m. the next day,” Charlie Marcantoni said.

A “bear packet” was sent to their home. It's a set of printed recommendations, including trash isolation and storage. It also recommends electric fencing to “protect gardens, compost piles and livestock” from foraging bears.

But “we're already bear savvy,” Suzanne Marcantoni said.

There was another bear scare on Oct. 5, but the next actual attack took place two days later, Oct. 7, at about 10 p.m.

“We came out because we heard Sweetie, our other pet pig, scream. The bear got her and took her out into the woods. We heard the screeching for about 15 minutes but it seemed forever. She came back mauled and died soon after. It was horrible,” Suzanne Marcantoni said.

“We don't want to see the bear get hurt but we want back-up by an armed person if necessary,” she said.

However, with few exceptions, including protecting human life, bears may not be killed or injured, according to the FWC's Bear Conservation Program.

Bear biologist Mike Orlando, of the DeLand FWC office, responded to the Marcantonis' compliant. He said bears and people continue to encroach on each other's habitats.

“It's no longer a one-way street with humans encroaching on bear habitats; now we see bears coming into human habitat,” Orlando said.

Orlando said he'd like to see an increase in FWC field visits and expressed concern about the Marcantonis' situation, but added that his agency is “swamped” this time of year.

The FWC regularly works with sheriff's offices to give deputies training for wildlife encounters, said Orlando, who has been a bear biologist since 1996.

He said hunting of Florida's black bears hasn't been allowed since 1994.

“The bears are smart and in the fall (they are looking for) extra calories for the winter. The pig in the pen was easier to get at than chasing one in the wild,” Orlando said.

Orlando indicated a three- to five-stand electric fence, from about 10 inches above the ground to a height of up to 5 feet, possibly with bait like peanut butter attached, should keep the bears at bay.

“We don't want livestock being taken. It's all about prevention. We have a limited quantity of loaner electric-fence equipment which may be available in some cases,” Orlando said.

Bears that pose a threat to humans may be euthanized, but relocation is seldom an option: That's just shifting a problem bear to another area, Orlando indicated.

A portion of the FWC website, www.myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/managed/bear/encounter/, provides information on what to do in the event of a black bear encounter.

The website indicate that of 36,000 reported cases of human and bear “conflicts” reported from 1980 to 2012, 38 percent were in area, tree or yard and 31 percent in garbage.

In only 1 percent of cases was there a threat to humans.

A graph on the site indicates “bear calls” have gone from 87 in 1990 to 6,159 in 2012. The website lists regulations and suggestions about “living in bear country” including “placing of food or garbage … for your safety and the bear's safety.”

Meanwhile, Suzanne Marcantoni said she might consider another pet pig.

<p>FORT MCCOY -- Suzanne and Charlie Marcantoni recently lost two cherished pet pot-bellied pigs in separate bear raids.</p><p>They expect wildfire in the area — after all, they live on the edge of the Ocala National Forest. And there's no surprise that bears roam the area.</p><p>Still, the Marcantonis are concerned about their family's safety. They have toddler-age grandchildren who visit their remote property in Eureka, about 25 miles east of Ocala.</p><p>They're also concerned about limits on their ability to protect themselves. With few exceptions, bears may not be killed or injured, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's (FWC) Bear Conservation Program.</p><p>“My hands are tied. It's like Catch-22. If the bears come back, we are helpless, because we are told not to harm them. When we called (the FWC) during the attacks, we were told to call back during the daytime. Bears don't go by daytime hours,” Charlie Marcantoni, 62, said.</p><p>The couple moved to Eureka about four years ago upon Charlie's retirement from the Walmart Distribution Center in Ridge Manor. They had been regular visitors to the Ocala National Forest for decades.</p><p>Their pets — 130-pound Porka-Dottie and 150-pound Sweetie — “just showed up two years ago. They could actually play soccer,” Suzanne Marcantoni, 60, said.</p><p>“Thursday morning (Oct. 3) about 1:30 a.m., we heard screeching. A bear had broken into our dog pen where we kept Porka-Dottie and Sweetie and hauled Porka-Dottie off. The screeching kept up while the bear dragged her into the woods. It's hard to believe the bear could take a 130-pound pig like that,” Suzanne Marcantoni said.</p><p>The shocked couple called the Marion County Sheriff's Office. A deputy responded and checked security at the residence, according to the family. The incident was essentially over by about 2:30 a.m.</p><p>“The deputy was a great help. He wanted to make sure no persons were at risk,” Suzanne Marcantoni said.</p><p>The Marcantonis expected an FWC wildlife (law enforcement) officer would be sent out at the time of the incident.</p><p>“We were told you have to talk to a bear biologist, and we could call back at 8:01 a.m. the next day,” Charlie Marcantoni said.</p><p>A “bear packet” was sent to their home. It's a set of printed recommendations, including trash isolation and storage. It also recommends electric fencing to “protect gardens, compost piles and livestock” from foraging bears.</p><p>But “we're already bear savvy,” Suzanne Marcantoni said.</p><p>There was another bear scare on Oct. 5, but the next actual attack took place two days later, Oct. 7, at about 10 p.m.</p><p>“We came out because we heard Sweetie, our other pet pig, scream. The bear got her and took her out into the woods. We heard the screeching for about 15 minutes but it seemed forever. She came back mauled and died soon after. It was horrible,” Suzanne Marcantoni said.</p><p>“We don't want to see the bear get hurt but we want back-up by an armed person if necessary,” she said.</p><p>However, with few exceptions, including protecting human life, bears may not be killed or injured, according to the FWC's Bear Conservation Program.</p><p>Bear biologist Mike Orlando, of the DeLand FWC office, responded to the Marcantonis' compliant. He said bears and people continue to encroach on each other's habitats.</p><p>“It's no longer a one-way street with humans encroaching on bear habitats; now we see bears coming into human habitat,” Orlando said.</p><p>Orlando said he'd like to see an increase in FWC field visits and expressed concern about the Marcantonis' situation, but added that his agency is “swamped” this time of year.</p><p>The FWC regularly works with sheriff's offices to give deputies training for wildlife encounters, said Orlando, who has been a bear biologist since 1996.</p><p>He said hunting of Florida's black bears hasn't been allowed since 1994.</p><p>“The bears are smart and in the fall (they are looking for) extra calories for the winter. The pig in the pen was easier to get at than chasing one in the wild,” Orlando said.</p><p>Orlando indicated a three- to five-stand electric fence, from about 10 inches above the ground to a height of up to 5 feet, possibly with bait like peanut butter attached, should keep the bears at bay.</p><p>“We don't want livestock being taken. It's all about prevention. We have a limited quantity of loaner electric-fence equipment which may be available in some cases,” Orlando said.</p><p>Bears that pose a threat to humans may be euthanized, but relocation is seldom an option: That's just shifting a problem bear to another area, Orlando indicated.</p><p>A portion of the FWC website, www.myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/managed/bear/encounter/, provides information on what to do in the event of a black bear encounter.</p><p>The website indicate that of 36,000 reported cases of human and bear “conflicts” reported from 1980 to 2012, 38 percent were in area, tree or yard and 31 percent in garbage.</p><p>In only 1 percent of cases was there a threat to humans.</p><p>A graph on the site indicates “bear calls” have gone from 87 in 1990 to 6,159 in 2012. The website lists regulations and suggestions about “living in bear country” including “placing of food or garbage … for your safety and the bear's safety.”</p><p>Meanwhile, Suzanne Marcantoni said she might consider another pet pig.</p><p>“I don't blame the bear for doing bear things,” she said.</p>